TEAC, one of Japan's best known hi-fi brands, is pleased to announce a new addition to its award-winning Reference 501 separates-based mini component hi-fi system… the high performance AX-501 integrated stereo amplifier.

Capable of delivering a generous 120w per channel (into 4 ohms) the AX-501 has been introduced to provide a higher performance standalone amplifier option to complement the other Reference 501 series components (particularly the UD-501 Dual-Mono Digital–to-Analogue converter and the PD-501HR DSD-compatible disc player).

Sharing the same retro, heavy-duty A4-sized 'full metal jacket' casework used by the rest of the range components (with solid aluminum front, side and top panels) every aspect of the AX-501 has been expressly designed, tuned and fettled with sound quality in mind, first and foremost. Aside from the 4-step illuminated level meters, that is. They just look immensely cool...

Unusually, despite its prodigious power output and compact size the amplifier doesn't need the assistance of cooling fans. That's because it employs a cool-running Class-D ABLETEC power amplifier stage, equally notable for the fact that it consumes just 0.5w (in power-saving mode).

As with the other separates in the Reference 501 series an over-sized toroidal transformer has been fitted inside, its output being rectified with the aid of premium Schottky barrier diodes to provide cleaner, noise-free internal current.

Connectivity is more than adequate, with three sets of analogue inputs (via RCA sockets) plus a set of fully balanced XLR inputs. The latter, which when correctly implemented offer lower noise levels than RCA, complement the XLR-outputs provided on the UD-501 DAC. A fully-balanced pre-amp analogue stage in the AX-501 guarantees to preserve the enhanced fidelity of such signals.

Unlike the headphone stages found on many similar-priced amplifiers – often a token gesture, at best – this amplifier boasts something genuinely special for fans of cans. It features a new CCLC (Coupling Capacitor-less Circuit) system that, as the name suggests, dispenses with coupling capacitors to ensure headphones receive get a stronger, higher-fidelity signal.